Since this is a week in which so many are traveling, I thought it would be fun to tell you about a very famous tourist attraction that is just over the Illinois/Wisconsin border, off the stretch of Interstate 94 between Chicagoland and Milwaukee. It’s the Mars Cheese Castle. The “Mars Cheese Castle” has been there for more than forty-five years. The owners recently built an actual “castle” just west of the land on which the original building stood. Regardless (and even though it’s not *right* on the border but actually about eight-ish miles north of it), when you see that sign you know for sure you’re in Wisconsin. The mouse,…
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Hey Mr. DJ…
Look what J recently purchased for himself! He has been practicing, and displays some mad skills! It’s enough to make an electronica/techno/house/trance/dubstep-lovin’ mom cry proud and happy tears. Video to come soon! Want to make this a long-term commitment? Please subscribe to my feed by clicking here.
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My Favorite Festive Workout Music Shall Be Your Favorite, Too. (Well, Maybe)
I find that most people who exercise regularly are often on the hunt for good workout music. People who know me personally ask me about it pretty often (in fact, Heather, did I ever send you that CD or is it lost on my kitchen desk??), and I love talking about workout music possibilities with anyone who will listen. It’s been a while since I posted one of my group cycling (also, Spinning) playlists here, and thought that now would be a good time. (Technically, it’s probably not a good time: it’s probably too late. Oh well.) On the two Wednesdays before Christmas, I pull out and play my holiday…
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Kickin’ It Old School
This morning I got dressed and headed down to the kitchen where I found J making his lunch for school. He looked at me and said, “Um, I have a minor problem. You know how I have finals next week? Well, I can get out early on Wednesday because my second final is my lunch period. The only thing is, I need a permission note from you, it’s due today, and Julesie is still sleeping downstairs.” “So?” I said. “Well, she’s still sleeping, and so you can’t go down to the computer to type out a note and print it out for me.” This time, I was the one who…
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I Tried To Do A Wordless Wednesday Post, But Couldn’t.
“Wordless” is difficult for me. I like to write and I like to talk. I do, however, have the ability to keep it short. Sort of. I’ve been wanting to post this picture for several months now. I snapped it on the north side of the Chicago River near Michigan Avenue, in the shadow of both the Trump International Hotel & Tower and the Wrigley Building. Those lily pads were peacefully floating around–not in the river, of course–in a little pond structure just steps away from Michigan and Wacker, one of the most bustling intersections in the city. I was amazed at the juxtaposition. Sadly, the picture doesn’t really go…
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When Any Seat Is A Great Seat At A Chicago Blackhawks Game
I recently had the good fortune to be a guest of General Motors’ Driving the Midwest at a year-end celebration of their “Our Town, Our Heroes” program, which spotlights Illinois folks who donate their time and resources to people and causes in need and “drive positive change in the community”. The event happened to take place in a Penthouse-level suite at United Center during a Chicago Blackhawks game. Much like the time I got invited to watch a Cubs game from a rooftop, watching a (2010 Stanley Cup Champions) Blackhawks game from the eighth floor in total luxury was something I have never before experienced, and appreciated from the depths…
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Suburban Scrawl Drives A Chevy Suburban
NOW we’re talking, people. Now we’re talking. After all of the Chevrolet vehicles I have test-driven and reviewed in the past year (ahem, the Traverse, the Cruze, the Tahoe, the Volt, and the Sonic), I discovered that the one I drove over Thanksgiving weekend, the 2011 Chevy SUBURBAN, is the one I like the best. That’s saying a lot, too, because I really liked every single one of the other vehicles. But this one? Love. I even love the name: there’s something pretty spectacular about it…Suburban. Get it? Suburban? Suburban Scrawl? No worries. It was pointed out to me, too. Anyway, the lovely folks at Chevy were kind enough to…
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Roxie’s Winter Ensemble, Now With Fewer Dog Boots.
Winter is here, folks, and it’s probably not news to you that my family lives in the Chicago area. That means pulling the heaters out of the crawlspace, putting extra blankets on the bed, and habitual wearing of fleece hoodies and sweatshirts. For Roxie, winter usually just means less outside walks with a good chance of a snowshoe outing now and then. (Oh, and an extra blanket on her bed, too.) I have never purchased a coat, sweater, or winter boots for her. I have always thought that dogs look ridiculous in clothing and since I don’t take Roxie out in dangerous temperatures, I figured there was really no need.…
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Willy Wonka And the Chocolate Factory: Reunited And It Feels So Good
As you know, my sister and I have made it a semi-regular habit to attend celebrity appearance events at our local theaters, Hollywood Palms and Hollywood Boulevard. It was only two months ago that we met Henry Winkler, Penny Marshall, and Eddie “Carmine ‘the Big Ragu” Ragusa” Mekka. In the spring, we met Burt Reynolds. This weekend there was another event we couldn’t resist: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” on the big screen, in honor of its *cough cough* 40th anniversary. This film is a huge one with my family in general, but it was also the first movie I saw in the theater, ever. Though we have watched…
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Chicago Elevated’s Holiday Pedway Extravaganza: Too Fun!
Yesterday I hopped on the train with my friend Amy so that we could enjoy two great holiday activities in Chicago, the Chicago Elevated Holiday Pedway Extravaganza and the Christkindlmarket. I have been on a “regular” (non-holiday) tour of the pedway with Margaret before, but when she came up with the idea of a tour during which her guests could see some of the best holiday decorations in the city without setting foot outside, I was all in. For those of you who think I’m talking about a Segway tour, which is something Margaret gets all the time, let me clarify. The Pedway is a series of underground tunnels (like…